MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Cabinet
Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 14 April 2015
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Present: |
Councillor Mrs Blackmore (Chairman), and Councillors Burton, Greer, McLoughlin and Mrs Ring |
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Also Present: |
Councillors English, Mrs Gooch and Mrs Springett |
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162. Apologies for Absence
It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillor Perry.
163. Urgent Items
The Chairman indicated that she had agreed to take the Report of the Head of Housing and Community Services relating to Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-2018 as an urgent item, together with the appendix to the Report of the Director of Communities and Regeneration relating to Town Centre Visioning.
164. Notification of Visiting Members
Councillors English and Mrs Springett indicated that they
wished to speak on Agenda Item 14 relating to the Review of Transport in
Maidstone – Alternatives to Using a Car.
Councillor Mrs Gooch indicated that she was just observing.
165. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members and Officers.
166. Disclosures of lobbying
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
167. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That the item on Part II of the agenda be taken in private as proposed.
168. Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 March 2015
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting
held on 9 March 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed.
169. Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 March 2015
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed.
By way of an update to the minutes, the Chief Executive updated Members on the Planning Support Shared Service performance.
In view of recent developments, the Chief Executive advised that her attention had been focused on looking at options for the future delivery of Planning Support Services. She emphasised that it would be business as usual whilst these options are being looked at.
The performance of the Planning Support team had continued
to improve, although due to the Easter bank holiday, the time taken for
validating planning applications had increased slightly. However, a number of
actions had been taken to lessen the impact.
170. Report of Head of Finance and Resources - Use of Potential Revenue Under Spend 2014-15
Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Finance and
Resources relating to the Use of Potential Revenue Under Spend 2014-15.
DECISION:
That the schemes set out in Appendix A to the Report of the Head of Finance and
Resources be approved and the priority applied to them in order to allocate up
to £400,000 of revenue resources from the year end under spend 2014/15.
171. Report of the Director of Environment and Shared Service - Office Accommodation Project
Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment
and Shared Services on the Office Accommodation Project.
DECISION:
(1)
That
the progress on the office accommodation projects be noted;
(2)
That
approval is given to the funding of £65,000 for the first phase of the
optimization of Maidstone House in connection with the Council’s short/medium
term accommodation;
(3)
That
approval is given to the funding of £10,000 to complete investigations into the
alternative use of the Gateway; and
(4) That the potential requirement of £165,000 for the second phase of the optimization of Maidstone House be noted.
172. Report of the Head of Policy and Communications - Communications and Engagement Strategy
Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Policy and
Communications relating to the Communications and Engagement Strategy.
DECISION:
(1)
That
delegated authority be given to the Head of Policy and Communications, in
consultation with the Leader, to make changes to the Communications and
Engagement Strategy reflecting the feedback from the Strategic Leadership and
Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee together with the
recommended changes made by Cabinet;
(2)
That
consistency of language be given to the content in Sections 2, 4 and 5 of the
Strategy; and
(3) That subject to the above, the Communications and Engagement Strategy for 2015-20, together with the action plan, be reviewed annually and approved.
173. Report of the Head of Housing and Community Services - Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-2018
Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Communities
and Regeneration relating to the Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan
2013-2018.
It was noted that in section 3.4 of the Plan it referred to the Kent Police and
Crime Commissioner being in office for a period of four years, the term was
actually three and a half years and that this should be amended accordingly.
RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to COUNCIL:
That the draft Community Safety Partnership Plan be approved.
174. Report of the Director of Communities and Regeneration - Town Centre Visioning
Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Communities
and Regeneration on Town Centre Visioning.
DECISION:
(1)
That
the Maidstone Town Centre masterplanning and delivery programme is commenced;
and
(2) That approval is given to the expenditure set out in Table 1 in paragraph 1.3.8 of the report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities to enable the development and delivery of the Town Centre Visioning work.
175. Report of the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Review of Transport in Maidstone - Alternatives to using a Car Report
Cabinet considered the Report of the Planning, Transport and
Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
DECISION:
(1) That
the SCRAIP relating to the review of ‘Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to
using a Car’ be referred to the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and
Transport Committee from May 2015 to consider in line with the emerging
Integrated Transport Strategy; and
(2) That the outside body appointments are referred to the Democracy Committee from May 2015.
176. Report of the Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Twilight Economy Review
Cabinet considered the report of the Economic and Commercial
Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee relating to the Twilight Economy
Review.
DECISION:
That the recommendations made by the Economic and Commercial Development
Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the subsequent responses be noted and
agreed.
177.
Report of the Head of
Revenues and Benefits Shared Service - Debt Recovery Service
Head
of Schedule 12A/
Brief Description
Paragraph 3 – Info re
financial/business
affairs
Cabinet considered the exempt report of the Head of Revenues
and Benefits Shared Service relating to Debt Recovery Service.
DECISION:
That the recommendations made in the exempt report be agreed.
178. Duration of Meeting
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.